The US$185 million Penn Entertainment Hollywood Casino Joliet relocation

Penn Entertainment has begun the process of relocating Hollywood Casino Joliet in Joliet, Illinois. Construction started this week on the US$185 million project which will anchor RockRun Collection, a new commercial and residential development. It is located adjacent to the Interstate 80 and Interstate 55 interchange in Joliet.

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Features at the new Hollywood Casino Juliet

The new facility will include approximately 850 slots and 44 live table games. This includes a retail sportsbook, a baccarat room, and bars and restaurants. Additionally, nearly 10,000 square foot event center with meeting areas, and approximately 1,330 parking spaces. The company expects to create 450 construction jobs and 515 permanent jobs at the new facility. This is an increase on its current team in Joliet by 150 people.

In addition to the Hollywood Casino, the Joliet development will include 500,000 square feet of future restaurants and retail, 570 multi-family housing units and 150,000 square feet of future office building space, she pointed out.

Construction timeline

Hollywood Casino Joliet will maintain its normal operations while the new facility is constructed, which is anticipated to take approximately two years. The current Hollywood Casino Joliet facility is located at 777 Hollywood Blvd. and is open 22 hours a day, seven days a week. The facility includes 50,000 square feet of gaming on two floors, more than 900 slot machines and 25 table games. Additionally, a sportsbook, three dining options and a 100-room hotel, located a short walk away across the parking lot from the casino. The casino opened on June 16, 1992t. The original name of the casino was Empress Casino Joliet. In 2009, Penn National Gaming reopened the casino at Hollywood Casino Joliet. Last year, Penn National Gaming rebranded as Penn Entertainment.

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“We are very excited to be moving forward with construction on a new, state-of-the-art Hollywood Casino Joliet in an ideal location,” Jay Snowden, CEO and president of Penn Entertainment, said in a news release.

Hollywood Casino Aurora

Just one month ago, a similar project broke ground in Illinois. Construction began on Hollywood Casino Aurora, a US$360 million project. The project is also under relocation from its current location on the Fox River downtown, most recently occupied by two hotels and a car dealership. It has been operating here since it opened in 1993. Penn Entertainment stated that the whole process will take two years to be completed as well. In the meantime, the existing Hollywood Casino riverboat in downtown Aurora will remain open. The new location is next to the Chicago Premium Outlets shopping centre which attracts over eight million visitors annually.

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The Hollywood Casino Aurora will feature at least 900 slot machines and 50 table games. Additional amenities will include 1,200 gaming positions, 220 guest rooms and a retail sportsbook. Moreover, an outdoor entertainment area, a full-service spa, high-quality bars and restaurants. There will be a nearly 12,000-square-foot event centre with meeting areas and about 1,700 parking spaces, Penn Entertainment plans to create 700 construction jobs and 700 permanent jobs at the new facility. That’s almost double the company’s current team members in Aurora.